CFWIJ and WPF applauds the groundbreaking election of six remarkable women to the Saudi Journalists Association — Thekra Alatiwi, Slama AlShethry, Fatima Aloufi, Bushra Alrabiah, and Mai Alsharif — a significant milestone in the association's 21-year history.

Prominent Lebanese journalist Dalal Mawad's book, "All She Lost," has been banned by the UAE.

The police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against four individuals who were visible in a Youtube video slandering Rana Ayyub.

CFWIJ is delighted by the release of Saudi women rights activists Nassima Al-Sadah and Samar Badawi from prison. Both women were freed on Sunday, June 27, after serving their prison sentence. They were detained in July 2018 on the suspicion of harming the Kingdom’s interests. There are few details available on the trials against both activists. CFWIJ welcomes the release of Nassima and Samar from prison. However, given the details of their detention, we condemn the authorities’ torture of the imprisoned activists. The activists should never have been apprehended in the first place.

Prominent Saudi human rights activist and journalist Loujain Al-Hathoul appeared in the Saudi supreme court on Sunday, May 10. According to Loujain's relatives, the court upheld the initial verdict, affirming the terrorist charges against her. The journalist was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison, including the two and a half years she already spent in jail. Lina Al-Hathoul, Loujain's sister, shared that the journalist was called to the Interior Ministry General Directorate of Investigation in Riyadh and informed that the supreme court upheld the earlier verdict of the appellate court regarding her conviction.

Columnist and women's rights activist Nassima al-Sadah was detained by authorities on July 30, 2018. Nassima endured threats and assault in prison and was restrained during the interrogation procedure. Starting in February 2019, Nassima was held in solitary confinement for one year. She fiercely campaigned for women's rights, focusing on their participation in politics and an end to the country's ban on women driving. Just a month before her arrest, the ban was lifted. CFWIJ calls for the immediate release of Nassima and other prisoners of conscience. We demand Saudi authorities to drop all charges against Nassima and release her immediately.

Earlier today, the judges confirmed the first sentence against Loujain Al-Hathloul regarding charges of “terrorist activities”. Loujain, a feminist activist, who recently released from prison on bail had said last week that she hoped the court would amend her sentence.

Saudi women rights defender Loujain al-Hathloul attended the first hearing of her appeal since her release. Loujain spent nearly three years in a Saudi prison for charges of espionage and activism against the kingdom. Loujain was sentenced to six years imprisonment in December 2020. Due to international pressure, her lengthy pre-trial detention was considered a sentence fully served, and Loujain was set to be released in March. Later, her sister shared the news of her early release.

Writer and human rights activist Nouf Abdulaziz was released from Saudi prison on February 10. Nouf was arrested during the authorities’ crackdown against activists and journalists in May 2018. The slew of detentions came before the Kingdom lifted the ban on women driving. Nouf’s release is conditional, which means she may still face jail time if she continues her activism. Nouf was held in Saudi detention for over two and half years for advocating for women's rights and denouncing the male guardianship system.

Loujain Al-Hathloul was finally released on Wednesday night after spending 1001 days in prison. She had been framed under allegations of “espionage” and “conspiring” against the kingdom because of her activism for women’s rights and criticism of the Saudi authorities.

After spending more than one thousand days in detention, activist Loujain al-Hathloul is expected to be released on Thursday, according to a tweet by her sister. Loujain was convicted by Saudi authorities for “espionage” and “conspiring” against the kingdom when her activism brought her into the limelight.

Writer and activist Nouf Abdulaziz was arrested on June 6, 2018, during a raid on her residence in Riyadh. Nouf was always vocal about women’s issues and the human rights violations committed by Saudi authorities. Despite facing pressure from the authorities, Nouf wrote fearlessly on the unlawful arrests prevalent throughout the kingdom. She was arrested during the crackdown against activists and journalists that began in May 2018. Nouf’s health has reportedly deteriorated after the brutal physical torture she suffered in prison.

٢٥ نوفمبر، جدة، المملكة العربية السعودية—بصوت خافت وجسد منهك جراء الإضراب عن الطعام، سجينة الرأي لجين الهذلول تحضر أولى جلسات محاكمتها وتقدم دفاعها القانوني أخيرا. لازال تحالف النساء العاملات بالصحافة قلق علي سلامة لجين ويطالب السلطات القضائية السعودية بإنهاء هذه المحاكمة الهزلية وإطلاق سراح لجين.

With a weak body and shaky voice, prisoner of conscience Loujain attended her trial today and was finally allowed to present her defense. The Coalition For Women In Journalism remains concerned about Loujain’s safety and calls upon the Saudi judicial authorities to end this farce trial and release Loujain.

جدة، السعودية، ١٢نوفمبر—تقام قمة المرأة لمجموعة العشرين بالمملكة العربية السعودية في ٢٥ نوفمبر ٢٠٢٠. يناشد تحالف النساء العاملات بالصحافة السلطات السعودية أن تخلي سبيل سجينات الرأي لجين الهذلول، نسيمة الصدي، سمر بدوي، نوف عبدالعزيز و مياء الزهراني.